Optical/electrical composite connector and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

In an optical/electrical composite connector including a male connector and a female connector, the male connector includes a ferrule provided at an end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the male connector which is connected to the female connector, and an electrode terminal. The female connector includes a core to transmit an optical signal, a cladding to cover the core, an electric wiring provided on an outer wall surface of the cladding, a sleeve in which the ferrule is fitted, the sleeve provided at an end portion of the cladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to the male connector, and a lens provided in the sleeve. When the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal and the electric wiring are electrically connected and the optical fiber and the core are optically connected through the lens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an optical/electrical compositeconnector and a method of manufacturing an optical/electrical compositeconnector.

2. Description of the Related Art

An optical fiber communication is a modern form of telecommunicationwhich uses an optical signal carried on an optical fiber as a channelfor signal transmission and is aimed at a high-speed, noise-proof signaltransmission with a reduced amount of communication hardware resources.The optical signal is transmitted via the optical fiber, and an opticalconnector is used in order to connect the optical fiber and atransmitter which transmits the optical signal or to connect the opticalfiber and a receiver which receives the optical signal.

On the other hand, when making connection of the optical fiber andeither the transmitter or the receiver by the optical connector, theremay be some cases in which making connection of electric wiringsimultaneously is also required. For example, in a case where power mustbe supplied to a transmitter or receiver device which transmits orreceives the optical signal but does not include a power supply, and ina case where a low-speed electrical signal is transmitted fortelecommunication, making the connection of electric wiringsimultaneously is required.

In such cases, two kinds of connectors, a connector for optical fiberconnection and a connector for electric wiring connection may be used incombination. However, using the two kinds of connectors will raise thecost. Because it is difficult to make the optical fiber connection andthe electric wiring connection simultaneously, a complicated form ofconnection will be required.

To eliminate the problem, an optical/electrical composite connectorhaving a composition that a connector for optical fiber connection and aconnector for electric wiring connection are unified has been proposed.For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-283967 andJapanese Patent No. 4082440 disclose an optical/electrical compositeconnector of this type.

However, when a connector for optical fiber connection and a connectorfor electric wiring connection are unified, the alignment accuracy ofelectric wiring and the alignment accuracy of optical fibercommunication considerably differ from each other, and the number ofparts needed is also increased. For this reason, it is difficult toobtain an optical/electrical composite connector which can make theoptical fiber connection and the electric wiring connectionsimultaneously, with low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an optical/electricalcomposite connector which can make the optical fiber connection and theelectric wiring connection simultaneously, with low cost.

In an embodiment which solves or reduces one or more of theabove-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides anoptical/electrical composite connector including a male connector and afemale connector for making an optical fiber connection and an electricwiring connection, the male connector including: a ferrule provided atan end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the male connector whichis connected to the female connector; and an electrode terminal, thefemale connector including: a core to transmit an optical signal; acladding to cover the core; an electric wiring provided on an outer wallsurface of the cladding; a sleeve in which the ferrule of the maleconnector is fitted, the sleeve provided at an end portion of thecladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to themale connector; and a lens provided in the sleeve, wherein, when theferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal ofthe male connector and the electric wiring of the female connector areelectrically connected and the optical fiber of the male connector andthe core of the female connector are optically connected through thelens.

In an embodiment which solves or reduces one or more of theabove-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides a method ofmanufacturing an optical/electrical composite connector for making anoptical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection, the methodincluding: forming an underclad having a groove by injection moldingusing a metal mold in which an electric wiring is disposed; applying acore material to the groove of the underclad; sticking an overclad tothe underclad so that the core material applied to the groove is coveredby the overclad; and curing the core material, wherein, in the formingthe underclad, a lens for the optical fiber connection and a sleeve forconnecting the female connector to the male connector are formed using asame resin material.

In an embodiment which solves or reduces one or more of theabove-mentioned problems, the present disclosure provides a method ofmanufacturing an optical/electrical composite connector for making anoptical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection, the methodincluding: forming an underclad having a groove by injection molding;forming an electric wiring on an outer wall of the underclad; applying acore material to the groove of the underclad; sticking an overclad tothe underclad so that the core material applied to the groove is coveredby the overclad; and curing the core material, wherein, in the formingthe underclad, a lens for the optical fiber connection and a sleeve forconnecting the female connector to the male connector are formed using asame resin material.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the composition of a male connector inan optical/electrical composite connector of a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the composition of a female connectorin the optical/electrical composite connector of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the female connector of the firstembodiment taken along a line 3A-3B indicated in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the condition in which the maleconnector and the female connector are connected together.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method of manufacturing anoptical/electrical composite connector of a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of manufacturing anoptical/electrical composite connector of a second embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS

A description will be given of embodiments of the present disclosurewith reference to the drawings.

An optical/electrical composite connector of a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure will be described. The optical/electrical compositeconnector of this embodiment is constituted by a male connector and afemale connector.

With reference to FIG. 1, a male connector 10 of this embodiment will bedescribed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a composite cable 11 contains an optical fiber12 and an electrical wire, and this composite cable 11 is connected toone side of the male connector 10. In the male connector 10, a ferrule13 is formed at an end portion of the optical fiber 12 from thecomposite cable 11. The electrical wire from the composite cable 11 isconnected to an electrode terminal 15 within a housing 14 of the maleconnector 10.

In the male connector 10, the composite cable 11 is connected to thehousing 14 of the male connector 10. The housing 14 includes a hollowcylindrical part 16 on the other side of the male connector 10 which isopposite to the side thereof to which the composite cable 11 isconnected. The optical fiber 12 with the ferrule 13 formed at its endportion is arranged in the middle of the internal space of thecylindrical part 16. The electrode terminal 15 is arranged to extendalong an inner wall of the cylindrical part 16 of the housing 14.

The electrode terminal 15 is formed of a resilient metallic material.The electrode terminal 15 includes a contact portion 17 at an endthereof which is formed in a wave-like shape by bending. The housing 14,including the cylindrical part 16, and the ferrule 13 are formed of aresin material.

Next, a female connector 20 of this embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of thefemale connector 20 of this embodiment taken along the line 3A-3Bindicated in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the female connector 20 of thisembodiment is connected through an optical waveguide to anoptical-communication device 30, such as an electrical/opticalconversion module, and this optical-communication device 30 converts anoptical signal into an electrical signal and vice versa. This opticalwaveguide is constituted by an underclad 21, a core 22 disposed in agroove 21 a of the underclad 21, and an overclad 23. The underclad 21and the overclad 23 form a cladding which covers the core 22 of theoptical waveguide. An optical signal is transmitted through the core 22of the optical waveguide. A material of the core 22 has a refractiveindex that is higher than a refractive index of a material of theoverclad 23 and higher than a refractive index of a material of theunderclad 21. An electric wiring 24 for supplying an electrical signalor power is disposed on an exposed wall surface of the underclad 21 ofthe optical waveguide.

As described above, the optical waveguide is connected directly to theoptical-communication device 30 which performs optical communication.This optical waveguide may serve as an optical waveguide of theoptical-communication device 30.

The optical waveguide is connected to the housing 25 of the femaleconnector 20. A lens 26 is formed in the middle of an end portion of theoptical waveguide, and a sleeve 27 is formed at the end portion of theoptical waveguide to surround the circumference of the lens 26.

In this embodiment, the underclad 21, the lens 26, and the sleeve 27 areformed of a same resin material. These elements are formed by injectionmolding or the like into an integral component, which will be describedlater.

The housing 25 includes a hollow cylindrical part 28. An opticalwaveguide is disposed in the middle of the cylindrical part 28, and thisoptical waveguide includes the lens 26 and the sleeve 27 at the endportion thereof. The electric wiring 24 which is formed on the wallsurface of the underclad 21 is exposed to the internal space of thecylindrical part 28.

The housing 25 including the cylindrical part 28 is formed of a resinmaterial, the overclad 23 is formed of a film-like resin material, andthe core 22 is formed of a resin material.

FIG. 4 illustrates the condition in which the male connector 10 and thefemale connector 20 are connected together.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the male connector 10 and the female connector20 in this embodiment are connected together so that the cylindricalpart 16 of the male connector 10 is inserted in the cylindrical part 28of the female connector 20. Specifically, in this condition, the outsidewall surface of the cylindrical part 16 of the male connector 10 and theinside wall surface of the cylindrical part 28 of the female connector20 are in contact with each other and fitted together.

At this time, the ferrule 13 of the male connector 10 is inserted andfitted in the sleeve 27 of the female connector 20. By this connection,an optical signal from the optical fiber 12 is transmitted to the core22 of the optical waveguide via the lens 26 of the female connector 20.

For this reason, the configuration of the ferrule 13 of the maleconnector 10 and the configuration of the sleeve 27 of the femaleconnector 20 are formed so that the optical signal from the opticalfiber 12 may be transmitted to the core 22 of the optical waveguide atthe least possible optical loss. By forming the male connector 10 andthe female connector 20 in this way, an optical signal from the opticalfiber 12 of the male connector 10 can be transmitted to the core 22 ofthe optical waveguide via the lens 26 of the female connector 20, whilean optical signal from the core 22 of the optical waveguide can betransmitted to the optical fiber 11 of the male connector 10 via thelens 26 of the female connector 20.

Moreover, when the connection of the male connector 10 and the femaleconnector 20 is made by inserting the cylindrical part 16 of the maleconnector 10 into the cylindrical part 28 of the female connector 20 andfitting the former into the latter, the electric wiring 24 disposed onthe wall surface of the underclad 21 of the female connector 20 and thecontact portion 17 of the electrode terminal 15 of the male connector 10are in contact with each other and the electric wiring 24 and thecontact portion 17 of the electrode terminal 15 are electricallyconnected.

By this connection, the electric wiring 24 of the female connector 20and the electrical wire of the composite cable 11 are electricallyconnected. Therefore, an electrical signal from the electrical wire ofthe composite cable 11 can be transmitted to the electric wiring 24 ofthe female connector 20, while power from the electrical wire of thecomposite cable 11 can be supplied to the electric wiring 24 of thefemale connector 20.

As described in the foregoing, according to the optical/electricalcomposite connector of this embodiment, it is possible to make theoptical fiber connection and the electric wiring connectionsimultaneously. Because the whole connector including the part formaking the optical fiber connection is formed of a resin material, theoptical/electrical composite connector of this embodiment can bemanufactured with low cost. (Manufacturing method of anoptical/electrical composite connector)

Next, a method of manufacturing an optical/electrical compositeconnector of a first embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a method of manufacturing a femaleconnector of the optical/electrical composite connector of thisembodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the electric wiring 24 is formed in step S102.Specifically, an electrode which is used as the electric wiring 24 isformed by press forming a conductive metallic material, such as phosphorbronze, and subsequently the press-formed electrode is plated with gold.

Subsequently, the underclad 21 is formed in step S104. Specifically, theelectric wiring 24 formed in the step S102 is placed in a metal mold formolding the underclad 21, and resin is injected to the metal mold sothat the underclad 21 is formed by injection molding. Thereby, theunderclad 21 including the electric wiring 24 can be formed.

In this embodiment, the underclad 21 is formed of olefin basedhydrocarbon, and the underclad 21 has a refractive index of 1.51. Whenthe underclad 21 is formed, the lens 26 and the sleeve 27 are alsoformed by injection molding simultaneously.

Subsequently, the core material is coated in step S106. Specifically,the core material for forming the core 22 is applied to the groove 21 awhich is formed when the injection molding of the underclad 21 isperformed. The core material to be applied is an ultraviolet-curingresin or a thermosetting resin. For example, the core 22 is formed of anepoxy resin and the core 22 has a refractive index of 1.56. Because thematerial which constitutes the core 22 has a refractive index higherthan a refractive index of the material which constitutes the underclad21 and the overclad 23, the incident light entering the core 22 passesthrough the inside of the core 22. The groove 21 a is formed to have asquare cross section, and the length of one side of the square crosssection is in a range of 35-50 micrometers.

Subsequently, the overclad 23 is stuck to the underclad 21 in step S108.The overclad 23 to be stuck is a film-like material, and this overclad23 is stuck to the underclad 21 so that the core material applied to thegroove 21 a is covered by the overclad 23.

In this embodiment, the overclad 23 is formed of olefin basedhydrocarbon, and the overclad 23 has a refractive index of 1.51.

Subsequently, the core material is cured in step S110. Specifically,when the core material is an ultraviolet curing resin, the core materialis cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays. When the core material is athermosetting resin, the core material is cured by heating.

Subsequently, the housing is formed by molding in step S112.Accordingly, the female connector 20 of the optical/electrical compositeconnector of this embodiment is formed.

Because the lens 26 and the sleeve 27 in the female connector 20 of thisembodiment can be formed simultaneously with the injection molding ofthe underclad 21, it is possible to manufacture the optical/electricalcomposite connector with low cost. The number of parts needed for theoptical/electrical composite connector can be reduced, and theoptical/electrical composite connector can be manufactured with the costbeing reduced and the manufacturing time being shortened.

Next, a method of manufacturing an optical/electrical compositeconnector of a second embodiment of the present disclosure will bedescribed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a method of manufacturing a femaleconnector of the optical/electrical composite connector of thisembodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the underclad 21 is formed in step S202.Specifically, the underclad 21 is formed by injection molding. In thiscase, simultaneously with the forming of the underclad 21 by injectionmolding, the lens 26 and the sleeve 27 are also formed by injectionmolding.

In this embodiment, the underclad 21 is formed of olefin basedhydrocarbon, and the underclad 21 has a refractive index of 1.51.

Subsequently, the electric wiring 24 is formed on the wall surface ofthe underclad 21 in step S204. This electric wiring 24 is formed byelectroless plating. After copper plating is performed in a desired areaof the electric wiring 24, the electric wiring 24 is plating with gold.

Subsequently, the core material is coated in step S206. Specifically,the core material for forming the core 22 is applied to the groove 21 awhich is formed when the injection molding of the underclad 21 isformed. The core material to be applied is an ultraviolet-curing resinor a thermosetting resin. The core material has a refractive index whichis higher than a refractive index of the material which constitutes theunderclad 21 and the overclad 23.

The core material is formed of an epoxy resin, and the core material hasa refractive index of 1.56. Because the material which constitutes thecore 22 has a refractive index higher than a refractive index of thematerial which constitutes the underclad 21 and the overclad 23, theincident light entering the core 22 passes through the inside of thecore 22. The groove 21 a is formed to have a square cross section, andthe length of one side of the square cross section is in a range of 35to 50 micrometers.

Subsequently, the overclad 23 is stuck to the underclad 21 in step S208.The overclad 23 to be stuck is a film-like material, and this overclad23 is stuck to the underclad 21 so that the core material applied to thegroove 21 a is covered by the overclad 23.

In this embodiment, the overclad 23 is formed of olefin basedhydrocarbon, and the overclad 23 has a refractive index of 1.51.

Subsequently, the core material is cured in step S210. Specifically,when the core material is an ultraviolet curing resin, the core materialis cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays. When the core material is athermosetting resin, the core material is cured by heating.

Subsequently, the housing is formed by molding in step S212.Accordingly, the female connector 20 of the optical/electrical compositeconnector of this embodiment is formed.

Because the lens 26 and the sleeve 27 in the female connector 20 of thisembodiment can be formed simultaneously with the time of the injectionmolding of the underclad 21, it is possible to manufacture theoptical/electrical composite connector with low cost. The number ofparts needed for the optical/electrical composite connector can bereduced, and the optical/electrical composite connector can bemanufactured with the cost being reduced and the manufacturing timebeing shortened.

As described in the foregoing, according to the present disclosure, itis possible to provide an optical/electrical composite connector whichcan make the optical fiber connection and the electric wiring connectionsimultaneously, with low cost.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-describedembodiments, and variations and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

The present application is based on Japanese patent application No.2009-184321, filed on Aug. 7, 2009, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

1. An optical/electrical composite connector including a male connectorand a female connector for making an optical fiber connection and anelectric wiring connection, the male connector comprising: a ferruleprovided at an end portion of an optical fiber on a side of the maleconnector which is connected to the female connector; and an electrodeterminal, the female connector comprising: a core to transmit an opticalsignal; a cladding to cover the core; an electric wiring provided on anouter wall surface of the cladding; a sleeve in which the ferrule of themale connector is fitted, the sleeve provided at an end portion of thecladding on a side of the female connector which is connected to themale connector; and a lens provided in the sleeve, wherein, when theferrule and the sleeve are fitted together, the electrode terminal ofthe male connector and the electric wiring of the female connector areelectrically connected and the optical fiber of the male connector andthe core of the female connector are optically connected through thelens.
 2. The optical/electrical composite connector according to claim1, wherein the cladding, the sleeve, and the lens in the femaleconnector are formed of a same resin material.
 3. The optical/electricalcomposite connector according to claim 1, wherein the male connectorincludes a first cylindrical part having an opening on the side of themale connector which is connected to the female connector, the electrodeterminal and the ferrule being arranged in the opening of the firstcylindrical part, and the female connector includes a second cylindricalpart having an opening on the side of the female connector which isconnected to the male connector, the electric wiring, the lens and thesleeve being arranged in the opening of the second cylindrical part, andwherein, when the first cylindrical part is inserted in the secondcylindrical part, the ferrule and the sleeve are fitted together.
 4. Theoptical/electrical composite connector according to claim 1, wherein anoptical waveguide including the core and the cladding in the femaleconnector, and the electric wiring are connected directly to anoptical-communication device which performs optical communication.
 5. Amethod of manufacturing an optical/electrical composite connector formaking an optical fiber connection and an electric wiring connection,comprising: forming an underclad having a groove by injection moldingusing a metal mold in which an electric wiring is disposed; applying acore material to the groove of the underclad; sticking an overclad tothe underclad so that the core material applied to the groove is coveredby the overclad; and curing the core material, wherein, in the formingthe underclad, a lens for the optical fiber connection and a sleeve forconnecting the female connector to the male connector are formed using asame resin material.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein theelectric wiring is formed by press forming and the press-formed electricwiring is plated with gold.
 7. A method of manufacturing anoptical/electrical composite connector for making an optical fiberconnection and an electric wiring connection, comprising: forming anunderclad having a groove by injection molding; forming an electricwiring on an outer wall of the underclad; applying a core material tothe groove of the underclad; sticking an overclad to the underclad sothat the core material applied to the groove is covered by the overclad;and curing the core material, wherein, in the forming the underclad, alens for the optical fiber connection and a sleeve for connecting thefemale connector to the male connector are formed using a same resinmaterial.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the electricwiring is formed by plating.